So many of our alumni, faculty, staff and advocates have given their time and expertise to provide services and support to so many communities – locally, nationally, and globally – during this time of COVID-19, and these annual awards highlight their dedication to public health and their exceptional service.
Every year the Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health and the University of Arizona Alumni Association give awards to alumni, faculty, staff, and community advocates for outstanding service and leadership in the field of public health. This year, with the fight to stop COVID-19, the vital role played by public health professionals has been highly visible. Our alumni, faculty, and students have risen to the challenge. We are proud of them all, and especially proud of this year’s award winners for their dedication to public health during this difficult time. The awards will be presented at our MEZCOPH Homecoming Celebration: Honoring Our Public Health Alumni and Community Leaders, an outdoor event on November 4, 2021, that will be part of the Homecoming festivities at the University of Arizona from October 31 thru November 6, 2021.
To register for our Homecoming event, please visit: https://register.uafoundation.org/ZuckermanHomecoming2021
Alumni of the Year Award, 2020-21
Marina Hadjioannou Waters
JD ’03, MPH ’04
The Alumni of the Year award will be given to Marina Hadjioannou Waters, MPH, in recognition of her outstanding dedication to improving health inequities in marginalized communities. Waters, President of LUNA, a language services company, has dedicated her career to advocate for the civil, political, and cultural rights of communities facing discrimination. Her leadership to fight for health equity with an emphasis on language rights has made a difference for thousands of people. Thank you Marina for your exemplary support of underserved communities around the globe!
About the award: The Alumni of the Year Award is given to the Zuckerman College of Public Health graduate who has bestowed honor on the college through significant contributions and accomplishments that embody the mission of the College. The award winner is recognized at Homecoming in a University-wide ceremony.
Bear Down Award, 2020-21
Chris Tisch
Chris Tisch, former Assistant Dean of Student and Alumni Affairs, will receive the Bear Down Award for her outstanding service to generations of public health students, the college, and the University of Arizona. Throughout her 30 years with MEZCOPH, Chris has touched the lives of countless students and guided them on their academic journeys to become public health professionals. We are grateful for her commitment, compassion, and sense-of-humor in the support of the college and its students. Chris will soon retire, and we wish her all the best in the next chapter of her life! Thank you for all that you’ve given to the university, the college, and our community!
About the award: The Bear Down Award is given to an individual who has performed noteworthy or meritorious service on behalf of the University of Arizona.
Extraordinary Faculty Award, 2020-21
Joe Gerald
Joe Gerald, MD, PhD, Associate Professor & Program Director, Public Health Policy & Management, receives the Extraordinary Faculty Award this year in recognition of his outstanding commitment to COVID-19 response in Arizona. Dr. Gerald’s weekly Arizona COVID-19 data reports have been uniquely valuable as a guide for decision-makers at the university, in Tucson and Pima County, and around the State of Arizona as both public and private institutions navigated the pandemic. His tireless communication of the COVID data and facts through media interviews has done so much to keep the public informed during the pandemic in Arizona and around the country. Thank you Dr. Gerald for your dedication to public health in Arizona!
About the award: The Extraordinary Faculty Award is presented by the Arizona Alumni Association to a faculty member who brings honor or distinction to the University of Arizona. This year, due to the pandemic, there are two recipients.
Extraordinary Faculty Award, 2020-21
Cecilia Rosales
BS ’76, MS ’00
Cecilia Rosales, MD, MS, Associate Dean of Community Engagement and Outreach for the college’s Phoenix Campus, will be given the Extraordinary Faculty Award in recognition of her exceptional service in response to the COVID-19 pandemic in Arizona. Dr. Rosales has shown outstanding leadership throughout the pandemic, using existing networks to reach underserved and Spanish-language communities with vital services, information, and now with vaccines. Her leadership of the Mobile Health Units in both Phoenix and Tucson, and her implementation of the MOVE-UP (Mobile Outreach Vaccination and Education for Underserved Populations) program in collaboration with the UArizona Center for Rural Health has reached thousands in Maricopa County, in rural counties around the state, and along the US/Mexico border with the COVID vaccine. Thank you for all that you do Dr. Rosales!
About the award: The Extraordinary Faculty Award is presented by the Arizona Alumni Association to a faculty member who brings honor or distinction to the University of Arizona. This year, due to the pandemic, there are two recipients.
Global Achievement Award, 2020-21
Kamila Tuyakbayeva
BS ’16
Kamila Tuyakbayeva, MPA, will be given the Global Achievement Award for her professional achievement and humanitarian service in the arena of global health. Kamila has successfully worked to raise awareness around sexual and reproductive health, reproductive rights and gender equality with the Y-PEER network of the UN Population Fund in Kazakhstan. Currently, she serves as Patient Health Impact Manager at Pfizer to ensure innovative therapies are available across central Asia, the Caucasus and Mongolia. The College is proud of her public health leadership and her dedication to global public health. Congratulations Kamila, we look forward to your future achievements!
About the award: The Global Achievement Award recognizes alumni who have brought honor and credit to the University of Arizona and their profession in the global arena through professional achievement or humanitarian service.
Honorary Alumna Award, 2020-21
Nicole Zuckerman-Morris
Nicole Zuckerman-Morris, JD, will be given the Honorary Alumna Award, for her enduring dedication to the college and the university for more than a decade. Nicole serves as Executive Director of the Zuckerman Family Foundation and sits on the MEZCOPH Community Advisory Board (CAB). As a CAB member, she supports the College’s mission by spreading awareness of health promotion and prevention strategies through community collaboration, fundraising and advocacy. Thank you Nicole for your vital support for the college, and for being a strong voice for public health policy issues!
About the award: The Honorary Alumnus/Alumna Award is given to non-alumni of the University of Arizona who have demonstrated continued interest in and exceptional loyalty and service to the university for 10 years or longer. Particular consideration is given to individuals who have responded to requests for service from the university.
Public Service Award, 2020-21
Richard Carmona
MPH ’98
Richard Carmona, MD, MPH, FACS, receives the Public Service Award for his tireless and unwavering commitment to public health in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Dr. Carmona served as the 17th Surgeon General of the United States and focused on health disparities, health literacy, and global health. In 2020, he was chosen to lead the University of Arizona COVID-19 Response Task Force, and in that role he devoted his experience and expertise to guide President Robbins and UArizona leadership to reopen the university as safely as possible in the fall of 2020. His dedication to the health of our university community, our regional community, and indeed the whole country stands as an inspiration to all of us in public health. Thank you Dr. Carmona for your exceptional service and leadership!
About the award: The Public Service Award recognizes individuals who are present or past holders of public office. Recipients have demonstrated outstanding dedication to the public. Preference is given to an alumnus or alumna of the University of Arizona but is not a requirement. Service to the university is not a requirement.
Young Professional Achievement Award, 2020-21
Anna Carolina Ortiz
MPH ’17
Anna Carolina Ortiz, MPH, will be given the Young Professional Achievement Award for her work ethic, selfless volunteerism, and humanitarian passion for public health. As an MPH student, Anna worked to promote the college and the public health field as a MEZCOPH Public Health Ambassador and a member of the UArizona chapter of the Delta Omega Honor Society in Public Health. Currently, Anna serves as the International Program Director at Esperança, a non-profit dedicated to global health promotion that is based in Phoenix, AZ. She is passionate about integrating public health and social justice issues into international development. Congratulations Anna, we look forward to seeing what you accomplish next!
About the award: The Young Professional Achievement Award recognizes alumni age 40 and under who have attained prominence in their field.
